Recommended Commentary: Joshua by Dale Ralph Davis

Dale Ralph Davis. Joshua: No Falling Words.  Ross-Shire, UK: Christian Focus Publications, October 1, 1988. 221 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for an accessible Bible commentary on the book of Joshua to understand this book better?  If so this commentary might be what you are looking for!  This was a very edifying and enjoyable Bible commentary authored by Dale Ralph Davis who previously was a professor of the Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS).  I have read previously his commentary on the book of Judges and also parts of the Psalms.  Here his commentary doesn’t disappoint and lived up to my expectations!

Read Full Post »

Review: The U.S. Constitution: A Very Short Introduction

Happy American Independence Day!  Here’s a book that’s a short reading and also important and relevant for a day like the 4th of July.

David J. Bodenhamer. The U.S. Constitution: A Very Short Introduction.  Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, April 18, 2018. 168 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Many Americans have a respect and high view of the Constitution; yet few have read it and know about the content of this important document.  Do you want an introduction to the US Constitution?  This would be a book to consider.  This is part of Oxford’s University Press’ series called “A Very Short Introduction” which they print these volumes in a smaller size (the dimension are 6.7 x 0.3 x 4.9 inches), on nice paper and with a nice cover.  The author for this volume is a capable specialists on this topic whose background is a professor of America legal and constitutional history.

Read Full Post »

Review: Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption

Still away: A book I finished from my long flights.

L. Michael Morales. Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption. Westmont, Illinois: IVP Academic,August 18, 2020. 224 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for a book on biblical theology with the th. There eme of the Exodus that is found again and again in the Bible?  If so this is a must read.  This book is an amazing book.  It is so fascinating that it took me a long time to read it since I took allot of notes!  The author did a good job being biblically driven and his insights are amazing. Though it is not the main purpose of the book, it read as a devotional and also an apologetic book at the same time. Reading this made me worship the God of the Bible and also marveling at how this can’t all be a coincidence but the Bible must be divine in origin!

Read Full Post »

Reviews of Commentaries on Exodus

It took a long time but I finally got done with teaching my girls through the entire book of Exodus as part of our home Bible study!

I thought it be a good idea to review the Bible commentaries on Exodus that I found helpful!

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

Looking for a devotional commentary on Exodus?  I highly recommend this one by Philip Graham Ryken!  It is a massive work (1247 pages!) but don’t let the size scare you; general Christian readers and also Bible teachers will benefit from this book by an esteemed pastor.  The book is an exceptional expositional commentary that is something in the middle between a devotional and an exegetical technical commentary and yet sometimes some of the insights in this book point out great points from the biblical texts that other technical commentaries might have missed.  I recommend this commentary as personal devotional or resources for Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers and preachers and pastors.

Read Full Post »

Review: 1 & 2 Kings: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching

David Schreiner. 1 & 2 Kings: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching.  Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, August 16th 2022. 320 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase:  Amazon

Is there a part of the Bible you wished you had a better grasp on?  The last few years I realized I need to give better study to 1-2 Kings and I imagine many Christians might feel the same way about this part of the Bible.  Fortunately there’s a resource that can help Christians go through 1-2 Kings and filled with insights and observation from the biblical text itself while also giving the occasional background information and original language observation.  This commentary not only has exegetical observations but also sections that are geared towards preaching and teaching.  This dual feature is the key characteristic of this Bible commentary series called “Kerux Commentaries” which is published by Kregel Publications.  The book actually has two authors, with the exegetical portions by Old Testament professor David Schreiner and the homiletical portion by a pastor name Lee Compson. 

Read Full Post »

Review: Common Law and Natural Law in America: From the Puritans to the Legal Realists

Andrew Forsyth. Common Law and Natural Law in America: From the Puritans to the Legal Realists.  New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, May 23, 2019. 168 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

What is the relationship of Christianity, Natural Law and Common Law in American Legal history?  This book answers the question.  The author Andrew Forsyth has his PhD from Yale on this topic.  This book itself is part of the Cambridge University Press’ Law and Christianity Series, an academic series that has ecumenical contributors.  Forsyth in this volume tracks the shift with the understanding of what is the relationship of Natural Law and English Common Law (and also of course the relationship of Christianity as the background), where it becomes secular in the end.  Forsyth did a good job in the book of the historical work.

Read Full Post »

Review: God without Passions: A Primer

Samuel Renihan. God without Passions: A Primer.  Palmdale, CA: Reformed Baptist Academic Press, July 21, 2015. 107 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

What does it mean when Christians say that God is immutable and that God is without Passions?  This book answers this question concerning this attribute of God in a way that is biblical and historically rooted in the sound teaching of historical theology.  I got this book and read it since I was impressed reading the author’s other book Deity and Decree.  This particular book also impressed me with Samuel Renihan’s ability to be biblical, clear, simple and yet deeply profound with regards to who God is.  This book is meant for the layperson and was originally from his Sunday School series on this topic.  Overall the book was worshipful and edifying and it lifted my soul reading this on vacation.

Read Full Post »

Review: Nahum (ZECOT)

Daniel Timmer.  Nahum.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, August 4, 2020. 208 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for an exegetical commentary on the book of Nahum in the Minor Prophet?  This is a very good technical commentary on the book of Nahum I would recommend.  By technical I mean it’s a commentary that examine the Hebrew text of Nahum and also employ discourse analysis to point out exegetical insight of the book of Nahum.  The commentary has good grammatical and syntactical observations along with the exploration of a passage’s intertextuality.  I have previously enjoyed other volumes in the Zondervan Old Testament Exegetical Commentary Series and I consider this as another fine example in this series of how commentaries should be like.

Read Full Post »

Review: Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit

Matthew Barrett. Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, March 16, 2021. 368 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

There’s been a lot of discussion about controversies about the Trinity among Evangelical circles the last few years and do you want to not only be informed about these discussions but also see a defense of the historic view?  Specifically the book examines Social Trinitarianism across the theological spectrum and also the doctrine of the Eternal Functional Subordination (EFS). The author Matthew Barrett who is the Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has given us a great resource for not only Baptists but the greater Reformed world and Evangelicals and Protestants.  I found the book engaging, biblical, informative, fair to those whom he disagree with and at times funny and witty yet also God exalting and worshipful.

Read Full Post »

Review: Living in the Light of Inextinguishable Hope

Iain M. Duguid. Living in the Light of Inextinguishable Hope.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, June 10, 2013. 224 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Are you reading the Genesis narrative about the life of Joseph in the Bible specifically in the book of Genesis 37-Genesis 50?  Are you looking for a good devotional commentary that focused on the literary details on these passages that also having an awareness of the unfolding of redemptive history?  I was tremendously blessed by this book.  This would be a great resource for both pastors, teachers and general Christian Bible readers.

Read Full Post »

Review: Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace

Iain M. Duguid. Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, Mar 24, 2015. 192 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Are you reading the Genesis narrative about the life of Isaac and Jacob in the Bible (Genesis 25:19-Genesis 35)?  Are you looking for a good devotional commentary that focused on the literary details on these passages that also having an awareness of the unfolding of redemptive history?  This would be a great resource for both pastors, teachers and general Christian Bible readers.

Read Full Post »

Review: All that is in God

James Dolezal. All that is in God.  Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, July 13, 2017. 176 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Are you looking for a book that looks at the doctrines of God in regards to the absoluteness of His being?  This book is helpful and the author James Dolezal has done a great service writing this for the church today, especially since some of the attributes of God that have been denied, downplayed and dangerously modified.  Dolezal also managed to present a biblical and historical view on God and answers contemporary objections of some of the hardest attributes of God, within the short space of 176 pages!    Yet thin as it was this book took me three months to finish as I was slowly working through it carefully and reflectively.

Read Full Post »

Review: Deity and Decree

 

Samuel Reinhan. Deity and Decree.  Coppell, TX: Kindle Direct Publishing, December 1, 2020. 161 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for a book that goes pretty deep with the difficult doctrines of God while also within the range of under two hundred pages?  This book would be suitable for you.  Originally a class syllabus for his lectures in a Spanish seminary this book is by Reformed Baptist (1689) Samuel Reinhan.  I felt I grew a lot reading this book in terms of my theology proper and though it was 161 pages I read this very slowly and took notes to really understand it.  Immensely rewarding and edifying!

Read Full Post »

Review: Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality

Gregory D. Cook. Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality: The Gospel According to Abraham.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, January 16, 2015. 208 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster |Amazon

Are you reading the narratives in Genesis about the life of Abraham?  Also are you looking for a good devotional commentary that also have a redemptive historical awareness and also conscious of biblical theology?  This would be a resource in understanding the portion of the book of Genesis.

Read Full Post »

Review: Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer Volume 1

 

David Kitz. Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer Volume 1.  Plymouth, MA: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., December 2^nd, 2020.  262 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Are you looking for a new devotional through the Psalms?  Bible dramatist, author, minister and blogger David Kitz has written the first installment of his 365 days devotionals on the Psalms.  This book goes up to Psalm 51.  After reading and using this devotional I hope there will be future volumes from the author and the publisher.

Read Full Post »